Administrative/Biographical history: Born in Birmingham, England, 1877; studied at Mason University College, Birmingham; BA (University of London external degree); appointed London Missionary Society (LMS) missionary to Madagascar, 1917; detained in England owing to World War One (1914-1918); sailed to Madagascar, 1919; took temporary charge of the Girls' High School at Fianarantsoa, Betsileo; moved to Tananarive and took charge of the Girls' Central School, 1921; retired, 1939; died at Parkstone, 1959.

Custodial history: The papers were deposited with the London Missionary Society and form part of the special series of personal papers of individual LMS missionaries and officers.

Immediate source of acquisition: Deposited on permanent loan with the records of the London Missionary Society by the Congregational Council for World Mission (later Council for World Mission) in 1973.

CONTENT AND STRUCTURE

Scope and content/abstract: Papers, 1846-1950s, of Elizabeth Lomas, comprising certificates and testimonials for her education and teaching posts in England, 1888-1918; postcards of England; typescript and manuscript notes, addresses, stories, poems, etc, from her life in Madagascar [1919-1939]; diaries and notebooks including notes on personal and domestic matters, poetry, and press cuttings, 1920s-1930s; photographs of individuals, groups and places in Madagascar [1919-1939]; typescript circulars relating to missionary work in Madagascar, 1947-1950; various letters received, 1890s-1950s; various personal papers, 1900s-1950s; papers relating to Lomas family affairs, 1846-1916, including documents relating to probate and property and various certificates; photographs of her family and ancestors [19th-20th century].

System of arrangement:

ACCESS AND USE

Language: English and Malagasy

Conditions governing access: Unrestricted.

Conditions governing reproduction: No publication without written permission. Apply to archivist in the first instance.

Finding aids: Unpublished handlist.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Related material: The School of Oriental and African Studies also holds the records of the London Missionary Society (Ref: CWM/LMS), including letters from individual missionaries, among them Elizabeth Lomas (Ref: CWM/LMS Madagascar Incoming Correspondence); her candidate's papers (Ref: CWM/LMS Candidates' Papers 2nd series 1900-1950 Box 22); her reports from Madagascar, 1920-1938 (Ref: CWM/LMS Madagascar Reports Boxes 10-12 passim); a portrait photograph of her (Ref: CWM/LMS General Portraits Box 3); and a photograph of her at the Girls' Central School, Tananarive, 1931 (Ref: CWM/LMS Madagscar Photographs Box 8 File 65). SOAS also holds the papers of James Trenchard Hardyman, including papers relating to Elizabeth Lomas (Ref: PP MS 63 Box 59).

Copies: Published on microfiche by IDC Publishers.

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Archivist's note: Compiled by Rachel Kemsley as part of the RSLP AIM25 project. Source: LMS Register of Missionaries, ed James Sibree.